Machine for seaming can-tops.



J. 'MALINE.

MACHINE FOB. SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911.

1 ,OOO, 1 O0. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

5 SHEETSBHEET 1.

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i INVENTOR mLuMBlA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. MALINE.

MACHINE FOR SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR M WITNESSES:

' By Atzomeys,

aha/3.0.11 @luvdk 1 HINOTO COLUMBIA FLANDGRA .L' MALINE.

MACHINE FOB smmme CAN TOPS.

1,000,100. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911. Patented Aug. 8

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INVENTOR By Attorneys,

. L1 i WITNESSES: f3 w 5 cuLuMmA PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. MALINE.

MACHINE FOR SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED Mn 3, 1911.

PatentedAug. 8, 1911.

5 SEBETS-SHEET 4.

y INVENTOR 111115551251 1 lb M W J 2 ilw COLUMBIA PLANQIJRAPH 60.,vfAsmNp'roN, u. c.

J. MALINE. MACHINE FOB. SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

5 SHBBTBSHEET 5.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: M

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coumau PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MALINE, OF ST.-OUEN, SEINE, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO E. W.

BLISS COMPANY,

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

MACHINE FOR SEAMING CAN-TOPS.

To all whom it may conceive:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MALINE, of No. 100 Boulevard Victor Hugo,St.-Ouen, Seine, France, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Seaming Can-Tops, of which the following isa specification.

The present invention relates to a machine for seaming sheet metal,designed particularly to seam the bottoms or covers of sheet metalboxes, cans or tins, such as preserve tins, and especially those ofnon-circular form.

This machine presents the following characteristics 1. The machine isprovided with special means for moving the seaming rolls to cause themto approach or recede from the axis of the machine while revolvingaround the metal box or can, so that they follow its exterior contour.The seaming rolls are carried by oscillating arms turning on axesparallel to the main axis of the machine and carried by a drum, servingalso as a belt pulley for receiving the driving belt, each oscillatingarm being provided with two rollers, one of which contacts with a fixedexterior former, and the other with an interior guide or mandrel of formcorrespond ing to that of the top to be seamed. In the rotary movementof the seamers and their carriers around the box or can, the contact ofthe first roller with the exterior former and of the second with theinterior mandrel, determines at each instant the position of theoscillating arm, and hence of the seaming roll. The latter thereforefollows a definitely determined path. The system operates positively andinvolves no springs. Further the reaction of the seaming roll istransmitted almost directly to the exterior former, which is in nearlythe plane of the work, thus avoiding oblique strains.

2. The seaming rolls are automatically advanced to their workingposition or withdrawn from this position during the movement of rotationof the oscillating arms and of the drum which carries them around itsaxis. To this end the seamers are carried each by a movable piece orslide carried upon the oscillating arm. The position of this movablepiece is determined by a cam, controlled by the transmission of movementthrough parts which are so arranged as to act during the operation,notwithstanding Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 3, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911. Serial No. 624,774.

the rotation of the oscillating arms and of their support. This resultis obtained. by means of racks moving in the axes of the oscillatingarms and meshing with driving pinions, which move the cams.

3. These racks are driven by special means. I11 the preferred form ofthe machine the racks carry rollers engaged by grooves in a cam sleevewhich is driven by the pulley drum through differential gearing, so thatfor every revolution of the pulley the cam executes a relative movementof one turn. By reason of this relative movement the cam moves therollers carried by the racks and causes the seaming rolls to approach orrecede from the seam. In another arrangement the rollers for the racksengage in the circular groove in a non-rotative ring which is moved upor down by a cam.

at. The exterior former is carried by a vertically movable support whichpermits of lowering it to give easy access to the mandrel and seamers.

5. The machine may be provided with means for centering the covers,consisting of wings or guides which swing down at the beginning of thelifting movement of the box or can to be seamed, so that they locate thecover and guide it until the instant when it is held by a presser foot,which holds it in place until it is seated upon the mandrel whichsupports it during the seaming. These Wings move out of the way towardthe end of the lifting movement, and so remain during the seamingoperation, after which the closed box may be forced down by an ejector.

-One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,in which- 'Figure 1 is an elevation of the entire machine; Fig. 2 is afragmentary vertical section showing the seaming mechanism on a largerscale; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4is a plan from underneath corresponding to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line 55 Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 Fig. 3; Fig. 7is a face view partly in section of the arrangement for centering thecovers; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan viewcorresponding to Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation partly invertical section showing a modification.

The machine shown in these drawings comprises a frame a (Fig. 1) ofsuitable form, carrying an upper fixed mandrel Z), and a lower mandrel 0movable vertically, which may be lifted by pressing down a pedal (Z sothat the box to be seamed, placed on this lower mandrel, will be liftedagainst the upper mandrel and be held between the two mandrels duringthe seaming operation.

The driving pulley a through a belt a passing over pulleys c drives adrum pulley 6 (Figs. 1 and 2) which turns around the vertical axis ofthe machine and carries with it the seaming rolls 7 f (Fig. 2). One ofthese rolls f is the primary seamer, while the other f is the secondaryseamer. These rolls approach successively to the box or can to beseamed, as will be explained, and seam the bottom or cover while rollingaround the exterior contour of the box. They are carried by arms 9turning on pivots g carried by the drum 0, the arm being preferablyformed in one piece with the pivot, and the latter tubular and journaledin the opposite plates of the drum (Fig. 6). Each of the arms carriestwo rollers of which one, g", rolls against the inner margin of astationary exterior former h (Fig. 4) the other, 9 rolls against aninterior guide k formed on the head of the upper mandrel Z) (Figs. 4:and 2) These two rollers turning against two distinct curves, turnalways in the same direction, and their path may be established withoutany play.

The former h and the guide 72, being fixed, when the pivots g arecarried with the drum 0 turning around the axis 0 of the ma chine (Fig.4), the arms 9 swing around this axis and take at each instant aposition which is determined by the contact of the rollers 51' g withthe former It and guide 72, these having a suitable profile, so that theseamers follow a path such that they inclose exactly the contour of thebox to be seamed. In this manner the position of the seamers isdetermined with precision in a very simple manner, without havingrecourse to parts which may involve lost motion, and without anyretracting springs. The reaction of the seamers is exerted against theformer h, which as clearly seen in Fig. 6 is nearly in the working planeof the seamers. In this manner the seamer-carrying-arms work withoutlost motion.

Each of the seamers is provided with au tomatic means for causing it toapproach the box to its working position, and for retracting ittherefrom at the desired instant. These means may be arranged so thatthe seamers act against the flange to be seamed either simultaneously orsuccessively according to the class of seam that it is desired toproduce. To this end the studs of the seamers f and f are carried eachon a slide 7' (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) movable in a slideway f (Fig. 6), thisslide presenting shoulders 7 against which acts a triangular cam 2'. Asthis cam 2' turns it pushes the slide forward or backward and displacesthe seamer to its working position, or withdraws it from this position,according to the relation which this cam has to the frame formed betweenthe shoulders of the slide The cam i is driven by special meanscomprising a heli coidal pinion or skew-gear i (Fig. (3) fixed on itsarbor i meshing with another similar pinion carried by an arbor i",which latter carries a pinion meshing with a rack is. This rack mayfollow the oscillating movement of the hollow pivot g by being swiveledor screwthreaded to its slide k which is guided in a slideway 71;carried by the drum 6. Thus in any position of the arm g the cams 2' areunder control of the racks 7s. The slides carry each a roller k engagedrespectively in one of two grooves Z Z in a cam Z loose on the hub e ofthe drum 6 (Figs. 2 and 5). This cam carries a toothed crown Z whichmeshes with a pinion m fixed on a shaft m on which is splined a clutchsleeve m The latter may be engaged with another sleeve m fixed to apinion m in. mesh with a pinion e fastened on the hub 6 When the sleevem is engaged with the sleeve of by any suitable controlling means, thedrum (2 drives the cam Z, their respective speeds being a littledifferent so as to constitute a differential movement; for example,while the pulley makes nine turns the cam may accomplish 10, in whichcase the cam turns once relatively to the drum. Because of this movementthe rollers 71: traverse the circumference of the respective grooves Z Zand the racks are moved up or down with the result of causing theseamers to approach or recede from the box to be seamed, as has beenexplained.

The exterior former h is carried by a support it (Figs. 1 and 2) whichmay be raised or lowered by a rack a engaged by a pinion if, the supporta being fastened in place by a stop button, the exact position of thesupport a being indicated by a pointer adjustable by hand. Thisarrangement permits of lowering the support to give easy access to themandrel, seamers, and other parts, and of conveniently restoring it toits normal level.

The machine operates as follows :-*The box or can is placed on the lowermandrel 0 and provided with the bottom or cover to be seamed to it. Thepedal (Z (Fig. 1) is then depressed, which lifts the mandrel 0 (duringits lifting movement the box may encounter a special device for exactlycentering the bottom or cover with respect to the box and which will bedescribed in detail hereinafter). The box is then lifted against theupper mandrel Z) and is held immovable between the two mandrels ready tobe submitted to the seaming operation. The pulley a being suitablydriven, the belt turns continuously the drum 0 with the twoseamercarrying mechanisms. The cam Z is turning freely with the drum atthe same speed. If the operator then brings the sleeve m" into clutchwith m by any suitable controlling means, not shown (the conncction maybe such that the lifting of the lower mandrel engages these clutchsleeves), the cam Z is then revolved at. a speed different from that ofthe drum 0, and because of this movement the cam grooves act upon therollers it. The roller corresponding to the first seamer is thus lifted,carrying with it the rack 7:, and through the intermediate mechanismturns the cam i which causes the first seamer to approach and performits work. This roller is then retracted by an inverse movement. Thesecond scanner is then caused to approach and perform its work, whichcompletes the seaming. This seamer is then retracted in its turn,whereupon by any automatic means such as are well known the mandrel c iscaused to descend, and an ejector is put in action. which forces theseamed box to fall out and separates the clutch sleeves m and m. Insteadof operating successively as thus described, the second seamer roll maycoinmence its work while the first is still in action, this resultingfrom an appropriate shaping of the cam-grooves Z Z This machine, besidesthe advantages above stated relating to the guiding of the seamer arms,the means for feeding and retracting the seamers, and the supporting ofthe seamer in substantially its working plane, possesses that ofpermitting work at high speed, and hence a large output, be- ?ause ofthe fact that the vertical displacements of the racks controlling themovements of approach and retard of the seamers are obtained with adiiferential movement of two parts turning with a continuous circularmovement, thus avoiding the use of alternately moving parts, and alsobecause the constant and forced contact of the seamers with their guidessuppresses the violent shocks which have always required a reduction ofspeed. Furthermore this arrangement has the advantage that by giving tothe grooves of the cam Z a suitable profile, the seamers may be actuatedwith absolute certainty independently of one another at any desiredinstant.

It remains to describe the means for centering the cover on the boxwhich automatically places it in the correct position for seaming. Thisapparatus is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. It comprises wings 7) p turningon axes 72 having pinions p meshing with toothed sectors 29 formed onlevers (1 pivoted at 9 These are connected by rods g to a cross head 1which slides vertically, having slots engaging studs r carried on afixed plate 8. The cross head is drawn down by a retracting spring Thelower mandrel 0 carries a pawl 0 pivoted at 0 which may act against apin r on the cross head. An adjustable abutment s is fixed on the plate8 near the pawl. On the plate .9 is hung a catch t having a hook t andtail a pin r* on the cross head slide is to be engaged by the hook Inthe axis of the upper mandrel is placed a spring presser foot L. Thisarrangement operates as follows :1Vhen the box a is placed on themandrel c as described, the latter being provided with a socketcorresponding to the form of the box (see Fig. 7), the box is thuscentered, but the cover a is free to be displaced, for it is only laidon the contents of the box. On pressing down the pedal so that themandrel ascends, it carries with it .the pawl which pushes against thepin '1" and lifts the cross head 1, which causes the wings to swing downinto vertical planes taking the positions shown in Fig. 9, so that thewings thus make contactwith and center the cover. The ascent continuing,the pin r* is caught by the hook t and the inclined lower part of thepawl 0 engages the screw 3 and turns the pawl so that it releases thepin 7, the mandrel then continuing its ascending movement independentlyof the cross head 1', which remains upheld by the hook t and the wingsare held down. The cover thus guided comes againstthe presser foot 6which presses the cover against the box, compressing the contents of thelatter; then the pawl encounters the tail t of the catch t and turns itso as to release the pin 1 Whereupon the cross head 1' is drawn down byits spring r and the wings are turned up to their first position. Thecontinued ascent of the lower mandrel lifts the box with its cover heldon by the presser foot. t finally into contact with the upper mandrelZ), and the seaming then takes place. Upon the descent of the lowermandrel the seamed box or can is pushed otl? by any suitable ejector notshown.

Fig. 10 shows a modification of the machine in which the rollers kcarried by the slides of the racks Z: are engaged in a circular grooveof a ring 41 which is carried by two rods 11 sliding in fixed guides andconuected by a cross head of carrying rollers c which make contact witha double cam The up and down movements imparted by the cam a to therollers Q2 and thus to the ring a, are transmitted to the rollers 7 andthe racks k, and control the apprcach or recession of the seaniers. Thedrum 6 turns during the entire seaming operation as formerly. In thisarrangement the movements of the two seamers takes place simultaneously.

The arrangements herein described constitute merely one exampleof theembodiment of this invention, it being understood that the forms,dimensions and arrangement of the details may be varied according to anygiven case, without changing the principle of the invention.

I claim as my invention, a machine for seaming metallic boxes, havingthe following defined essential characteristics, namely 2- 1. A machinefor seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, anoscillating arm carrying said seamer having two rollers, a stationaryexterior former engaged by one of said rollers and an interior guideengaged by the other roller, said guide and former having outlinescorresponding to the contour of the seam to be formed.

2. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, aseamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, a stationary former,said arm having a roller engaging the inner contour of said former, andsaid roller and former arranged in a plane approximately coinciding withthat of the seamer.

A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer,an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving said arm aninvariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed,and means for causing the scanner to approach and recede from its workcomprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying said seamer,controlling means for imparting movements thereto, andintercommunicating mechanism revolving with said drum.

t. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, aseamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving saidarm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to beformed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from.its work comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carryingsaid seamer, controlling means for imparting movements thereto, andintercomnninicating mechanism comprising a part moving in line with thepivotal axis of said arm.

5. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, aseamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving saidarm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to beformed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from itswork comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying saidseamer, controlling means for imparting movements thereto, andintercommunicating mechanism comprising a cam engaging said movablepiece, and a part connected between said cam and the controlling meansand moving through the pivotal axis of said arm.

6. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, aseamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving saidarm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to beformed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from itswork comprising a movable piece mounted to slide on said arm, a camacting against said sliding piece, said cam turning in said arm, andconnecting means for turning said cam comprising a part passing throughthe hollow pivot of said arm, and exterior means for communicatingmotion thereto.

7. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, aseamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving saidarm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to beformed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from itswork comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying saidseamer, a revolving cam, a slide operated by said cam, andintercommunicating means between said slide and movable piece.

8. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, aseamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving saidarm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to beformed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from itswork comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying saidseamer, a controlling cam having connections for operating said movablepiece, and differential gearing be tween said drum and cam, whereby thecam revolves at a speed approaching that of the drum and at a slow raterelatively thereto.

9. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum,primary and secondary seamers, oscillating arms carrying said seamers,means for giving said arms an invariable motion conforming to thecontour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing said seamers toapproach and recede from their work comprising movable pieces mounted onsaid arms and carrying said seamers respectively, and controlling meansfor imparting movements thereto comprising a cam having two cam grooves,rollers entering said grooves respectively, and intercommunicatingmechanism between said respective rollers and the respective seamers,whereby to independently advance and retract the primary and secondaryseamers.

10. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, aseamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, said arm having aroller, a stationary former against which said roller moves, and asupport for said former with means for displacing said support to giveaccess to the seamer and its accessories.

11. In a machine for seaming sheet metal comprising seaming mechanismand a mandrel for receiving the work and lifting it against saidmechanism,-the combination therewith of guiding means for centering thework comprising-movable guides, mechanism engaged by said mandrel in itsascent for moving said guides into engagement with the work, saidmechanism adapted to withdraw said guides after the work has beencentered.

12. In a machine for seaming sheet metal comprising seaming mechanismand a mandrel for receiving the work and lifting it against saidmechanism, the combination therewith of guiding means for centering theWork comprising pivoted wing guides, mechanism for swinging said guidescomprising a movable part engaged by said mandrel in its liftingmovement, whereby to swing the guides into engagement with the work, acatch for holding said movable part after displacement to retain theguides in such engagement, and means actuated by the further lifting ofthe mandrel for disengaging said catch and for thereupon retracting saidpart to withdraw the guides out of the way.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo sub scribing witnesses.

JOSEPH MALINE.

lVitnesses:

A. WILZIN, H. C. Coxn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

